Play is no laughing matter, as far as a nursery child is concerned. It's a serious business - not serious in the sense that he has a frown on his face, nor in the sense that he weighs up all his actions very carefully during play, but serious in the sense that play makes a major, unique contribution to his cognitive development. Play and learning are intertwined.
Pioneer theory
The renowned Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget described four stages of intellectual development, each having its own dynamic connection with play as the medium of learning:
1. Sensorimotor stage (from birth to 18 months approximately). In this stage, the baby uses his senses and motor abilities to explore and extend his knowledge whenever an opportunity arises. He will happily play with any object, not just a toy.
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